witham



July 24, 1928. Re. 17,049

G.- S. WITHAM, JR

IOISTURE INDICATING m RECORDING Original Filed Jan. 26. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet- 1 Y'INVENTORR ATTORNfi July 24, 1928.

G. S.- WITHAM, JR

IOISTURE INDICATING AND RECORDING Originai Filed Jan. 26. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W 1%,

ATTORNEY fi o o .o o o 0 0 0 0 July 24, 1928. 7

(3. WITHAM. JR

IOISTURE INDICATING AND RECORDING 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Jan. 26. 1922 lNVENTORj 0? 6 %,)L'

ATI'ORN 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 :r EFEGEEEE w 3 as G. S. WITHAM, JR

IOISTURE INDICATING AND RECORDING Original Filed Jan. 26. 1922 July 24, 1928.

INVENTOR I.

w in O 7 m July 24, 1928. 7 Re. 17,049

G; S. WITHAM, JR 7 MOISTURE INDICATING AND RECORDING Original Filed Jan. 26. 192? 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 "ll lliflilllll INVENTOR TTORNEY .aiaueaa l 24, 1928.

UNITED STA I Re-17,049

GEORGE srmoan wn'nam, .13.; or HUDSON Ems, mzw YORK.

MOISTURE mmme am) miconnme.

Original No. 1,626,060, dated April 26, 1927, Seria1- No. 531,863, filed January as, 1928. Application 101' reissuev filed April 2,1928. Serial: No. 266,738,

My invention is an improvement in .de-

' vices for measuring moisture content and relates more particularly to methods and mechanism for measuring moisture content of solid materials, such for example,- as textile aper or other sheets or webs. For examp e, in paper making by the usual method,

the amount of heat required for the proper drying is arbitrarily determined, in accordance with the grade of paper being'made, and the regulation of the heat is controlled by the back tender, who judges the moisture content of the web by the feel of the same, and the amount of steam admitted to the dryer, and the consequent temperature maintained therein, is regulated inaccordance with his judgment. Obviously only a small proportion of the area of the web coming from the dryer can be. tested, and the temperature of the dryer, and the final condition-of the web, will be determined by the condition of a portion of the web which may be abnormally dry, or abnormally wet. In the former case the web will il otjb'e'sufiiciently dry, while inthe latter may be overdried, giving in either case an inferior product. In any event, the regulation is .un-

moisture content,

l content of'a web of a selected grade, not

certain, and is dependent on the skill andexerience of the back tender, and on his abil- .1t-y to judge themoisture content by the feel of the web. The web for'this reason reaches the calender-rolls in a condition, as regards that is largely dependent on chance.

It has been proposed to control the admission of steam to drying rolls by the temperature of the rolls, thereby to maintain a uniform temperature throughout the drying operation, determined as to degree by the grade; of paper being made. The moisture however a constant factor, varying in accordance with -manyconditions, among which may be mentioned atmosphericf.

Hence a temperature that-will properly dry a selected grade of paper under certain conditions at one time, may be insuflicient, or

may be more than suflicient, under other conditions, It is obvious that with a known humidity, the requisite temperature for.

proper drying can be easily determined, and

maintained regardless of varying conditions.

In accordance with the present invention, the moisture content of an object, such as a 4 travelling web of material, is ascert ined by passing air or a suitable other gas over a section of'the surface of the ob ect and such gas will take up from the object more or less moisture depending upon the moisture content of the surface of the object. Then by ascertaining the moisture content of the gas after such contact with the object,

res PATENT OFFICE,

a reliable indication of the moisturecontent of the object ma be obtained. "By applying such tests to different sections of the surface of the object through the movement of the object or by moving the point of application of the gas, one may obtain a means estimate of the free moisture (content of the object. Thus, in connection with tests upon travelling paper webs, for example, the mois ture condition may be different in the center of the web than at the sides and by taking tests at both the center and sides of the web, an accurate average'maythus be determined.

In the drawings; Figure 1 is a side view of a part-of a paper making machine, showing the application of the tester, Figure 2 is albottom plan bodiment of tester, i

Figure 3 is an, end view bf thesame, Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a portion ofa. modified form" of tester Figure 4 is a vertical section view of the parts shown in Figure 4.

view of an em Figure 51s a front view of a mounting for the line 88 I of that the invention is capable of use in various other applications.

In paper making by the usual process, as before stated, the admission of steam to the drying rolls, that provides the heat of the .drying mechanism, is regulated in accord ance with the opinion of the back tender. as regards the moisture content of the paper. He udges wholly by the sense of, to ch, and

can touch only a limited area of the web being dried. In the place of thisfuncertain and variable test, I provided a testing device, which will give a more reliable and accurate indication of the condition of the web. Such a testing device may be made- I adjustable across the web or over either or both faces thereof, and may be located at any point between the paper making'machine and the calender rolls or reel Suitable recording means may also be associated with the device for making permanent records automatically of the results of the tests.-

any preferred dimensions, has at the open top thereof a transversely extending plate 3, and the said plate is spaced apart from that wall of the pan remote from the tank as shown, or perforations may be provided at this point as shown in Figures 4' and 4", for 'a purpose to be presently described. The tank is supplied with water by any suitablemechanism, which is connected thereto by inlet and outlet pipes 4 and 5, and a substantially constant level of water is maintained therein. The dry and wet bulbs, 6 and .7 respectively, are similar, each consisting of aseriesof tubes arranged alongside of each other, and each series of tubes is connected by-a flexible tube 8 or 9 as the case may be, with recording mechanism indicated generally at 10. A wick 11 encloses the tubes of the wet bulb 7, and the ends of the wick, asshown in Figure 4, extend through a slot in the side wall of the pan adjacent to the tank, an'd into the liquid in the tank. By capillary attraction, a constant' supply ofliquid is carried to the wet 'Here bulbT ond evaporated, more or less swiftly, in accordance with atmospheric conditions. The paper web to be tested passes over the open top of the pan, being spaced above the plate 3, and in order to provide for a uniform and homogeneous mixture of air at the face of the web being tested, I- arrange a perforate pipe 12 at that wall of the pan adjacent to the tank, and just below the evel of the top of the plate 3. Referring to Figure 4, it will be seen that the rear edge of the plate is offset downwardly to extend beneath this pipe, and the pipe delivers gas between the web and the plate 3 moving toward the opposite edge of the pan. the gas passes between the edge of the plate and the pan wall, and beneath the 7 plate, and passes out through ports 13 at that wall of the pan adjacent to the pipe 12.

Any character of gas suitable for the purpose may be used, and because of this movmg current there is a uniform and homoeneous mixture at that face of the web be- 1ng tested. The current of gas 'may be supplied by any. suitablemechanism, through connections indicated at 14.

. Thermostatic bulbs 6 and 7 may be of any standard'forin and they maybe suspended within the interior of the instrument, the

two sets of bulbs being independent of each other. The bulbs-6 are adapted, by means of flexible tubing, to indicate dry temperatures. .The bulbs 7, in contact with the wick 11 which communicates with the reservoir 2, indicate wet bulb temperatures. When a current of gas, for example air, supplied from the tube 12, passes over the top of the,

instrument between the plate 3 and the web of' material being. tested, the gas absorbs moisture from the web of material and then follows' the course indicated by the arrows in Figure 4. or Figure 4", and comes in contact with the wet and dry bulbs. For a given dry bulb temperature,the wet bulb indication will be higher when the current of gas is comparatively dry, than when this current is quite moist. By using standard tables, either the relative or the absolute humidity may be determined, depending upon whether unconditioned or-conditioned gas is used with the tester.

In operation, when the web of paper to be tested is over the open side of the pan, the moisture content thereof will afl:'ect the evaporation at the wet bulb, while the temperature will aflect the dry bulb. By a comparison of the wet and dry bulb readings, and the use of charts and tables one may ascertain the humidit The recording mechanlsm 10 records the results of the indications, so that/such results for any period may be easily determined. By means of the improved testing device, any part of the web may be tested, and the tester is preferably mounted so that it can" of the gas or air.

the web may be tested throughout its width. I I

In addition to recording the indications of the wet and dry bulbs, I may connect the bulbs with controlling mechanism for the er, as shown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 537,328; filed Feb. 17 1922, so that the dryer is controlled by the temperature and the humidity of the web. Any preferred mechanism maybe used for mountingthe tester to be moved trans- 'versely of the web, and such mechanism ma be arranged so that the movement of the tester is manually controlled, or automatically by the movement of the web.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 4

the plate 3 is shown as extending enacross the top of the pan '1, and a tirely pose of permitting the compressed air or bearing other gas to pass below the plate 3, after it has been subjected to the action" of the moist web of material.

In Figure 5, the testing 'device indicated generally at is supported by a bearing 16, which is mounted to move longitudinally of a cylindrical reservoir 17 supported in brackets 18 on the frame 19 of the paper ,making machine, at any desired point on said frame, as for instance adjacent to the calender rolls. The reservoir 17 is longi tudinally slotted on its upper face, and the wick 20 of the testing device extends through the slot into the water inthe magazine." Refer-ring to Figure 5, it will be noticed that the bearing 16 is a T, the lateral branch 21 thereof being the outer member of a telescoping connected with the testing device. The members are adjustable with respect to each other, any suitable'means, as for instance friction between the parts. A screw 22 is journaled co-a-xiallyof the reservoir, and nuts 23 are connected with the bearing, and engage the screw, so that when the screw is turned the will be moved longitudinally of said screw. A hand wheel 24 is connected with one end of the screw, and a lock nut 25 is mounted on the screw adjacent to the hand wheel, for holding larlyin" the brackets 18,'so that the angle of the openltop of the tester with respect to the horizontal may be varied, and the adjustment at 21 permits the tester to be moved nearer to or farther away from the reservoir. voir by means of a'pipe 26, and an overflow 27 is provided, at the level at which it is desired to maintain the liquid in the reservoir. The pipe28 which supplies the gas to the tester is connected by a flexible pipe of, supply. This pipe passes under a pulley 30 on the machine frame, and over a counter-weighted pulley 31 above the pulley 30. The flexible tubes 32 which connect the bulbs with the recording mechanism pass around similar pulleys 33 and 34, and it will be obvious that when the tester moves away from the source of gas supply and from the recording instrument, the pulleys 31 and 34 will be moved downward, while when the tester moves toward the source of gas supply, the pulleys will move upward, tak'ng up the slack in the hose and the tubes. \Vith this arrangement, as the web travels toward the calender rolls, the tester maybe movedtransversely thereof, at suitable intervals, to test the web throughout its width.

In Figure 6, a construction is shown,

wherein the tester is moved by an electric connection, whose inncr member is hold it in adjusted position.

and :are held in adjusted position, by'

the screw in adjusted position. The reservoir is adjustable angu Water is supplied to the reser the bulbs, dry

the tester continuously 38 supported by the frame 39 of the machine.

In Figures 7 and 8 there is "shown an embodiment, wherein the tester 40 is connected withthe bearing 41 in the usual manner, which in turn is mounted to move on the reservoir 42.

The bearing'lrowever, is a split,

bearing, and it may be clamped on thereservoir, by meansof a set screw 43, whereby to lVith this arrangemen't, the hearing. may be adjusted angularly on the reservoir, as well as longitudinally thereof, and by means of the set screw 43 may The reservoir is mounted in brackets 44 on the frame 45 of the paper making machine. In Figure 9 the indicating and recording mechanism for the wet and dry bulb temperatures is shown. The said mechanism in dicated at 10 is of usual construction, having hands or pointers 49 and 50. for indicating' and recording the wet and dry bulb temperatures on cards, which are mounted behind the transparent front of the case. Each pointer carries a pen, which traces a line on the card, and the cards are appropriately marked so that the variations in the lines traced may be easily determined. The line traced by .the pointer 50 records the temperature, while that traced by the pointer .49, when considered in conjunction with that traced by pointer 50, gives an indication of the humidity, and by proper regulation, the lines traced by the pens may be caused to maintain any desired relation. InFigure 10 there is shown an alternate.

be held in 'adjust-ed'position.

Ill]

this arrangement, the case 51 corresponds to p the case 10 of Figure 9. *The recording pen. or pointer 52 may be coupled with either of inthe present instance withvthe bulb; The vet bulb is coupled with an am 53, nected by a pen, and has a pin and slot connection with the arm. With this arrangement amean curve is traced, the shape of the curve depending upon both the temperature and the humidity of theweb of material being tested. By properly re ulating the temperature, the mean line may e desired point.

Ordinarily here is a considerable quantity of fuzz on the face of the web and this fuzz link 54 which is pivotedv to the and the arm and the pen are-concaused to'be traced at the is scraped off by the edges. of the pan, and to facilitate its removal from the pan, I hinge the plate 3 to'the pipe 12 as shown, so that site ,sides of the pan, the'said scrapers eing adjustable vertically as shown at 47 and '1 preferably arrange the scrapers sothat the web is held slightly above the'edges of'the pan and, doesnot contact therewith. The scrapers are of a length corresponding to the length of the pan and it will be noticed that there is a-recess indicated at 48 between each scraper and the pan for catching the fuzz which is removed by the scraper.

It will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to other objects, such as textile webs for example, and that various" changes in the details. which have been herein describedand illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the artwithin the principle and scope of the invention. as expressed in the appended claims.

' I claim: f

1. In paper making machines, a humidity and temperature indicating and recording device including wet and dry bulb elements, and means for moving said elements across and adjacent to a face of the web of paper to indicate and record the humidity and temperature at any desired point along such face.

2. In mechanism for measuring the mois ture content of. a material, the combination of containingmeans adapted to confine gas in-contact with a portion of said material separately from the atmosphere surrounding. said material, means for directing 'a current of gas through said containing means for contact with said. portion of the material, and humidity measuring means comprising a sensitive element arranged in said current of gas beyond the region of contact of. the latter with said material.

3. In paper making machinesfahumidi-ty and temperature indicating and recording device including wet and dry bulb elements,

means for moving said elements across and adjacent to a face of the web of paper, means for directing a flow of gas at the face of the web adjacent to said elements and means for causing this gas to comein contactwith the wet and dry bulb elements.

4. 1 In paper making machines, ahumid-ity and temperature indicating and recording device including wet and dry bulb: elements, means for moving said elements adjacent to a face of said web, means for directing a flow of gas at the face of the web adjacent to the said elements, means for causing this gas to come in contact with said elements and fior shielding the said elements from the current of gas until after it has come in contact with the web of paper.

'5. A humidity and temperature indicat- ,ing and recording device for paper making machines, compr sing a tester, carrying a wet bulb and a dry bulb indicating and recording mechanism; means connecting said mechanism with said bulbs whereby the humidity and the temperature are recorded; and means for supporting the tester to permit movement thereof transversely of the traveling web and adjacent thereto.

6. In a; humidity and temperature indi-- eating and recording device for paper making machines, an open pan, wet and dr bulb elements carried by said pan, a wic associatedwith thewet bulb element and means for supporting and moving said pan adjacent to one face of the web of paper. said means including a reservoir extending transversely of the .web and into which said wick is adapted to extend. I

7. In a humidity and temperature indieating and recording device for paper making mechines, an open pan, wet and d1 bulb elements carried by said pan, a wic associated with the wet bulb element, and

means for supportingand moving said pan adjacent to one'face of the web of paper, said means including. a reservoir extending transversely of the web and into which said wick is adapted to extend, a screw mounted to rotate-within the reservoir,'and a nut 'on the-pan engaging the screw for moving said pan when the screw is turned. 1

8. In a humidity and temperature indicating and recording device for paper making machines, a wet bulb element and a d bulb element, a wick associated with the wet bulb element, and means for supporting and moving said elements across oneface of the web of paper, said means including a reservoir extending transversely of the web and into which said wick is adapted to extend. 7

9. In a humidity and temperature indieating and recording device for paper making machines; a'wet bulb element anda dry bulb element, a wick associated with the wet bulb element, and means for supporting and moving said elements across one face of the I into which said wick is adapted to extend,

a screw, mounted to rotate ,'w1t hin the reservoir, and a nut associated with the screw turned. i.

- 10; In a humidity and temperature indiformoving thev elements when the screw is cating'and recording mechanism for paper making machines, an open pan adapted to befarranged with'its open side adjacent to the web of paper, wet and dry bulb elements I 1 carried bys'a d pan, means for directing a 1 current ofgas adjacent to the face of the web and flowing from one side ofthe pan to the other,and means for thereafter caus ing said current of gas to come in contact with the wet and drybulb elements, whereby these elements are caused to respond to changes in humidity and temperature.

11. In mechanism for measuring the moisture content of a material, the combination of an open sided container having "its open side arranged against and substantially clozed by the surface of said material for confining a current of gas in contact wlth said material separately from the atmos-* phere surrounding said material, means for direct-111g a current of gas through said container, and humidity measuring means comprising wet and dry sensitive elements arranged in said gas current beyond the region of contact of the latter with said material.

12. In a humidity and temperature indicating and recording device for paper making machines, an open pan adapted to be moved adjacent to one face of the web, wet and dry bulb elements mounted within said pan, a plate in the pan-spaced apart from one ,edge thereof to provide a space betweenthe web and the plate, and means for directing a flow of gas into the space between the web and the plate, the said plate being arranged so thereafter as to cause the gas to come in contact with said elements whereby said elements are caused to respond to changes in wet and dry bulb temperatures.

13. In a device of the character specified, the combination with the frame of a paper making machine of a reservoir supported transversely thereof, humidity and tempera ture indicating and recording mechanism including wet and dry bulb elements mounted on the reservoir, a wick for thewet bulb element, means for moving the said mechanism longitudinally of the reservoir from side to side of the frame, the wick of the wet bulb element dipping into the reservoir.

14. In a device of the character specified, the combination with the frame of the paper makingmechanism, of a reservoir supported transversely thereof, humidity aiid temperature indicating and recording mechanism including'wet and dry bulb elements mounted on the reservoir, means for moving the said mechanism longitudinally of the reservoir from side to side of the frame, means in connection with the said mechanism for directing a flow of gas onto. the face of the web adjacent to the said mechanism, flexible connections betweensaid means and a source of supply, and counter-weighted mechanisms for retalning said flexible connections taut durin the movement and thetester.

15. In paper making machines, humidity and temperature indicating and recording devices adapted to be moved adjacent to aface of the web to indicate and. record the hiimidityand temperature at such face, and means for homogenizing the atmosphere determined point alon between said devices and the face of the web.

16. In paper making machines, humidity and temperature indicating and recording devices adapted to be moved adjacent to a face of the web to indicate and record the humidity and temperature at such face, and means for homogenizing the atmosphere between said devices and the face of theweb, comprisin means for directing a uniformly distributed current of gas against the face of the web adjacent to the said devices.

17. A material testing mechanism of the character described, comprising a conductor for gas having an opening arranged adjacent and adapted to be substantially closed by a portion of the surface of said material for subjecting a current of gas passing through said conductor to intimate contact with said material, means for conducting .gas to said conductor for passage theremeans and including confining means disposed vat said point for bringing the gas throughout a constant area into contact with the surface of-the travelin web.

, '19. In a machine of the character described,.wherein a web of paper or the like is caused to travelover drying rolls, means for determining the moisture content of the web at a predetermined point along the path of motion thereof, comprising mechanism responsive to variations in humidity conditions of air, conducting and circulating means for maintaining a confined flow of gas past said .point and thence to the responsive means and includingconfining means disposed at said point for bringing the gas into contact with a constant area of the surface of the traveling web.

20. In a machine of the character described, .wherein' a web of paper or the like is caused ,to-travel over drying rolls, means responsive to. variations 'in humidity condition of air, a separate source of air, means for conducting a current of. air from the separate source and so as to contact with a constant area of the traveling web at a prethereof and thus to a sorb moisture from the web and a conduit for passing moisturecharged air from said current to the responsive means.

as 'l the path of motion 21. In a machine of the character dei scribed; wherein a web of paper or-the like is caused to travel over drying rolls, means responsive to variations in humidity condi- .5 tions of the air, a separate source of air means for conducting a current of air from the separate source into contact with the.

web to absorb moisture therefrom, said. concontactto a constant areaoi the web and a ducting means including means for limiting s 9 conduit for" passing, moisture-charged air from said limiting means into contact with said humidity-responsive means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

c0acn suuroan wmum, Jr: 

